The blog of children's and YA author Sue Whiting - sharing her passion for books and the ups and downs of the writing life.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The next big thing

It may be Boxing Day here in
Australia, but apparently THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG thingy must go on.

Last week the very lovely Deborah
Abela tagged me on her blog, as part of a chain
of blog posts by writerly types called THE NEXT BIG THING, where authors are
invited to wax lyrical about their next book.

Today it's my turn, and I’m going
to be answering a bunch of questions about my new novel, Portraits of Celina, which comes out next April. Then I have to
tag more writers who will tell you about their new books next Wednesday.

So let’s get this show on the
road.

What is the working title of your next book?

Portraits of Celina. It will be
out in April 1 next year – no joke! I’d show you the cover – it is amazing –
but I’m afraid I can’t as there is going to be an official “reveal” and
competition in February. Stay tuned.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea snuck up on me. I was
writing a totally different book for a younger age group, but it wasn’t
working. After some scathing but "right on the money" feedback from my daughter, I decided to ditch that
particular project. But the set-up and back-story I had created intrigued me
and I couldn’t let my characters go. So I decided to go for a bit of an explore and see where it took me.

What genre does your book fall under?

This is a tricky one as it doesn’t
fit neatly into a particular genre. A haunting thriller perhaps? It’s for
readers aged 12+, and the back cover blurb describes it as “A ghost story. A
love story. A story of revenge.”

What actors would you choose to play the part of your
characters in a movie rendition?

There has been much discussion and
daydreaming about this among the editors at Walker Books. But I think Ashleigh Cummings who played Debbie in Puberty
Blues and Tomorrow When the War Began would do a great job of Bayley. Oliver I’d choose a hot newcomer from
NIDA. Gran is definitely Jacki Weaver. And Bill Hunter (if he were still with
us) is the perfect Bud.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

When the grief-stricken Anderson
family moves to the lake house in faraway Tallowood, Bayley hopes that this
will be their chance for a fresh start, but the house was witness to an awful
tragedy forty years earlier and Bayley becomes entwined in her murdered
cousin’s desperate yearning for revenge.Will your book be self-published or represented by an
agency?

My daughter, Lizzie, inspired (or
strongly suggested) I ditch my original idea (which sucked, in her humble
opinion) and explore the setting and characters and set-up I had created. She
was so right!

What else about the book might pique the reader's
interest?Early readers (my publisher, editors,
sales and marketing team, sales reps etc) have all commented on how genuinely
creepy and suspenseful the book is. And there is a twist at the end of the story, which has taken everyone by surprise and has had them looking at me through
narrowed eyes and saying things like “I didn’t know you had such a dark side,
Sue!”So that's it from me. It is now my duty to pass the baton on to other writers and as it is the holiday season and everyone is lying around a pool or on the beach somewhere reading the current big thing, I have only managed to tag two writers - the gorgeous and talented Sue Lawson and Steph Bowe. They will be posting on January 2.
So long!

WINNER! Speech Pathology Australia, Book of the Year Award

"Recommended ... A charming story of feeling safe, or overcoming a fear of the sea, this will have wide appeal to young children..." Fran Knight ReadPlus

US RELEASE APRIL 2015

"Highly recommended ... Whiting has written a delicious ghost story and a thrilling mystery ..." Pat Pledger Readplus

OUT NOW!

ILLUSTRATIONS BY STEPHEN MICHAEL KING

CLICK ON THE COVER TO VIEW TRAILER

"Authentic, clever and entertaining: this one is a winner for readers of any age." Alice Nelson, The West Australian NOVEL 10+

Click on the cover to read an extract.

"Hiding beneath deceptively simple sentence structure lies a story of hope that echoes for all ages. A Strange Little Monster will be a timeless tale of hope for years to come" Jo Burnell www.thereadingstack.blogspot.com/

Click on the cover for BIG BOOK classroom activities.

"From its appealing cover onwards this book is a treasure trove of delights" Junior Bookseller and Publisher

Click on the cover to read a review.

"This is a gorgeous underwater road trip for ages two and up about accepting who you are and looking at life from a different perspective." Junior Bookseller and Publisher